Eyewear with exchangeable temples housing bluetooth enabled apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wireless ad hoc pico network is formed by eyewear and other devices such as a computer, a bracelet and a telephone having similar transceivers mounted on them. Master slave relationships are configurable. Other devices, such as a radio, a CD player, a hand held global positioning satellite system and a heart rate monitor, having similar transceivers, can also be connected with the transceiver of the eyewear. The transceivers operate on globally available, unlicensed radio band, 2.45 gigahertz (GHz) and conforms to the Bluetooth standard. The power consumption of Bluetooth enabled devices is less than three percent of the power consumption of a mobile phone. The eyewear includes a frame and connected to the frame are two temples. Temples are connected to frame via hinges. Temples have a male portion of a connector incorporated in them. Female portion of the connector is made integral with the hinges. When the male portion is inserted in the female portion the temple is attached to the frame. The temples can be removed by pulling the connector apart, and a temple with different apparatus within it can be inserted in place of the removed temples. The temple may have co-molded within its body, an apparatus such as an audio device, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone, and a display device such as liquid crystal or an alarm. In another embodiment, eyewear constitutes a distance alarm to monitor the movement of, for example, a child. A device in form of, for example, a bracelet is worn by the child. The transceivers in the eyewear and the bracelet form a small-range wireless network, i.e., piconet, wherein the eyewear and the bracelet communicate using signals conforming to the Bluetooth technology. The transceiver in the eyewear is configured to generate an alarm when the bracelet exceeds a predetermined distance from eyewear.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/845,245 filed Apr. 30, 2001 (pending) and claimsall rights of priority thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a wireless communication eyeweardevice having interchangeable temples. More particularly, the inventionrelates to eyewear having a transceiver enabled with small-rangewireless communication technology.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Many conventional wearable personal apparatus including eyewear,having electrical input-output devices are available to the consumers.Several of these apparatus provide wireless communications using radiofrequency or infrared frequency. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,832discloses a wearable personal apparatus that includes an audiotransducer, which may function as an audio input or output device. Theaudio input or output signals are provided through a wireless system.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,546 discloses an eyeglass interface systemwhich includes a display assembly and one or more audio and/or videoassemblies mounted to an eyeglass frame. The display assembly is mountedto one temple and provides an image to be viewed by the user. The audioor video assembly is mounted on the other temple and is in communicationwith the display assembly. The audio or video assembly may comprise acamera assembly and/or an audio input or output assembly, such asmicrophone and/or speakers. Applications include hands-free telephone,hands-free pager, hands-free time display, hands-free blood pressure orvital sign monitoring device, hands-free voice conferencing orhands-free surveillance system. The applications can include voicerecognition technology and/or GPS technology utilizing an infrared linkor radio frequency (RF) link, or a fiber optic cable.

[0007] Additionally, a personal display device built into a frame ofeyewear is disclosed at the website of inViso Inc. and may be found atthe following URL address: http://www.inviso.com. The inViso's eyewearis designed in the shape of sunglasses with the built-in personaldisplay device providing a wearer with a view of his/her computerscreen. The displayed view is equivalent to a view provided by a 19-inchdesktop monitor from a 2.5 feet distance. In order to display thecontent of the computer screen on the personal display device, however,the inViso's eyewear has to be plugged into the computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Conventional apparatuses are limited to handling a one to onecommunication, and can not form an ad hoc network consisting of morethan two devices. Conventional audio devices do not function well in anoisy, radio environment and are bulky and have high power consumption.Therefore, it is desirable to provide a wireless communication devicethat is capable of forming an ad hoc network with a plurality ofdevices. It is also desirable to provide an apparatus that is low-cost,small in size, and has a low power consumption. It is also desirable tohave an apparatus that can function in very noisy radio environments andis audible under severe conditions.

[0009] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of theconventional apparatus, and provides a wireless network formed byconnecting an eyewear with a computer, a bracelet and a telephone. Theeyewear has a transceiver mounted on a temple. The computer, thebracelet and the telephone also have similar transceivers, mounted onthem. Other devices, such as a radio, a CD player, a hand held globalpositioning satellite system and a heart rate monitor, having similartransceivers, can also be connected with the transceiver. Thetransceivers are preferably tiny, inexpensive, short-range transceiversthat operate on globally available, unlicensed radio band, 2.45gigahertz (GHz). The transceivers conform to the Bluetooth standardpromoted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Bluetooth is an openspecification technology, whose specifications can be obtained fromBluetooth SIG, Inc. or downloaded from the following URL address:http://www.Bluetooth.com. A copy of the Bluetooth Radio Specification isattached to the present specification and is fully incorporated hereinby reference. The transceivers can support data speeds of up to 721kilo-bits per second as well as three voice channels. The transceiverscan operate at at least two power levels: a lower power level thatcovers a range of about ten meters and a higher power level. The higherlevel covers a hundred-meter range, can function even in very noisyradio environments, and can be audible under severe conditions. Thetransceivers limit their output power to exactly that actually needed.If the receiving device is only a short distance away, the transceiversmodify its signals to suit exact range. Furthermore, the radioautomatically shifts to a low-power mode when traffic volume becomes lowor stops. The power consumption of Bluetooth enabled devices is lessthan three percent of the power consumption of a mobile phone.

[0010] The invention contemplates eyewear with interchangeable templeshousing a transceiver enabled with small-range wireless networktechnology, which allows the provided eyewear to form small-range ad-hocnetworks with other devices equipped with similar transceivers.

[0011] The eyewear includes a frame and connected to the frame are twotemples. The temples are connected to the frame hinges. The temples havea male portion of a connector, for example a one-eighth inch audioconnector, incorporated in them. The female portion of the connector ismade integral with the hinges. When the male portion is inserted intothe female portion, the temple is attached to the frame. The temples canbe removed by pulling the connector apart, and a temple with a differentapparatus within it can be inserted in place of the removed temples.

[0012] In addition to housing a transceiver, each temple of the providedeyewear may have other communication devices, for example, an audiodevice, a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a display device such as aliquid crystal or an alarm device, co-molded within its body. A batterypowering the transceiver and other co-molded devices can also beco-molded within one of the temples and connected to a co-molded deviceand the transceiver via a co-molded conductor.

[0013] In another embodiment, the eyewear, worn for example by an adult,comprises a distance alarm monitor to supervise the movement of a child.In this embodiment, a device, preferably in the form of a braceletequipped with its own short-range transceiver, is worn by the child. Thetransceivers in the eyewear and the bracelet form a small-range wirelessnetwork, wherein the eyewear and the bracelet communicate with eachother using signals conforming to the aforementioned Bluetooth standard.The transceiver in the eyewear is configured to activate the alarm whenthe distance between the bracelet and the eyewear exceeds apredetermined range.

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will becomeevident to one skilled in the art upon reading of the detaileddescription of the invention, which is given below by way of exampleonly and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] A full understanding of the invention can be gained from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a small-range wirelessnetwork formed by connecting an eyewear, constructed in accordance withthe present disclosure, to a computer, a bracelet and a wirelesstelephone;

[0017]FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of the eyewear of FIG. 1showing the removable temples of the eyewear and their connection to aneyewear frame;

[0018]FIG. 2b is a diagram of the hinge with the male connector portionextending out before being molded into the temple;

[0019]FIG. 2c is a diagram showing the hinge molded into the temple;

[0020]FIG. 2d is a diagram showing the spacial relationship of the pinof the hinge and the male connector portion;

[0021]FIG. 2e is a diagram showing the hinge, connector and circuitrysuch a Bluetooth PCB before being molded into the temple;

[0022]FIG. 2f is a diagram showing the spacial relationship of theassembly of FIG. 2c in the eyewear;

[0023]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a network formed by the eyewear of thepresent invention and various communication devices, for example amobile phone or a two-way radio;

[0024]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a network formed by the eyewear of thepresent invention and various audio-playing devices such as an MP3player;

[0025]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a network formed by the eyewear having acamera mounted on its frame and various video-enabled devices, forexample, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop computer;

[0026]FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a network formed by the eyewear having acamera mounted on one of its temples and various video-enabled devices,for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop computer;

[0027]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a network formed by the eyewear of thepresent invention and a telephone conferencing device;

[0028]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of different components of theeyewear co-molded within the frame and temples of the eyewear;

[0029]FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of the eyewear provided with atransceiver and a pair of removable audio speakers;

[0030]FIG. 10 is a back perspective view of the eyewear shown in FIG. 8with one of the speakers being removed from its temple;

[0031]FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the eyewear provided with adigital camera mounted on the frame of the eyewear and a pair ofspeakers mounted on the temples; and

[0032]FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the eyewear, having amicrophone mounted on its temple, and a teleconferencing device being incommunication with the eyewear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] A general concept of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with this embodiment, awireless network 10 is formed by connecting eyewear 12 with computer 14,bracelet 17 and telephone 16. Eyewear 12 has a transceiver 18 mounted onone of the temples of the eyewear 12 (shown on the temple 19). Computer14, bracelet 17 and telephone 16, also have similar transceivers, (notshown), mounted on them. When a user of the eyewear 12 comes within apredetermined distance from the above devices, the transceivers of theeyewear and these devices start to communicate to each other therebycreating the ad hoc small-range wireless network 10.

[0034] Transceiver 18 is a tiny, inexpensive, short range transceiverthat operates on globally available, unlicensed radio band, 2.45gigahertz (GHz). Transceiver 18 conforms to the Bluetooth standard.Bluetooth is an open specification technology, whose specifications canbe obtained from Bluetooth SIG, Inc. or downloaded from the followingURL address: http://www.Bluetooth.com. A copy of the Bluetooth RadioSpecification is attached to the present specification and is fullyincorporated herein. Transceiver 18 can support data speeds of up to 721kilo-bits per second as well as three voice channels. The transceivercan operate at a lower power level that covers about ten meters and ahigher power level which covers about a hundred meters. Transceiver 18includes a chip 22 that along with software control, allows the user topreset which units transceiver 18 can communicate with. The Bluetoothtechnology allows transceiver 18 to function even in very noisy radioenvironments, and be audible under severe conditions, for example,during a thunderstorm.

[0035] A connection between the eyewear 12 having the transceiver 18 andone or more of any other devices forms a small range wireless network10, known as a piconet. Any device in the piconet, including thetransceiver, can be configured to be a master, and the rest of thedevices will be slaves. A different device may be configured to be themaster at a different time, reverting the previous master to be a slaveto the newly configured master. Several piconets can be established andlinked together ad hoc, and a slave in one piconet can act as a masterin another piconet. The clocks of all devices in the piconet aresynchronized with the clock of the master. The full-duplex data ratewithin a multiple piconet structure with ten fully loaded, independentpiconets can be more than 6 megabits per second.

[0036] Transceivers 18 and transceivers within other devices limit theiroutput power to exactly that actually needed. If the receiving device isonly a short distance away, the transceivers modify its signal to suitexact range. Furthermore, the radio automatically shifts to a low-powermode when traffic volume becomes low or stops. The low-power mode isinterrupted by very short signal, with the purpose of verifying theestablished connection. Bluetooth enabled devices may have four modes ofoperation in a connection state. The four modes, in increasing order ofpower consumption are part, hold, sniff and active. Thus, the powerconsumption of Bluetooth enabled devices is less than three percent ofthe power consumption of a mobile phone.

[0037] Shown in FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of eyewear 12 ofFIG. 1. Eyewear 12 includes a frame 24, and connected to frame 24 aretwo temples 19 and 20. Temples 19 and 20 are connected to frame 24 viahinges 26 and 28, respectively. Although hinges 26 and 28 are shown tobe adjacent to and separate from connector portions of the eyewear, itshould be appreciated that this is done for illustration purposes only.As discussed further with respect to FIGS. 2b-2 f, in the preferredembodiment of the present invention each hinge is integral with oneportion (either male or female) of the corresponding connector. Temples19 and 20 each have a male portion 30 of a connector 34, for example, aone-eighth inch audio connector, incorporated in it. Female portion 32of connector 34 is made integral with hinges 26 and 28. As it is evidentto one skilled in the art, mounting positions of male portion 30 andfemale portion 32 may be reversed, as shown for example in FIGS. 2b-2 f.When male portion 30 is inserted in female portion 32, temple 20 isattached to frame 24. Temple 19 is also attached to frame 24 in asimilar manner. Temples 19 and 20 can be removed by pulling theconnection apart, and a different temple having a different apparatuswithin it can be inserted in place of temples 19 or 20. Temples 19 and20 when attached to frame 24 substantially hide hinges 26 and 28,thereby making eyewear 12 esthetically better. A patent applicationfiled by Gregg T. Swab, entitled “Exchangeable Eyeglass Temple PiecesUtilizing Quick-Connect Attachment” Ser. No. 09/532,427, describestemple pieces with quick-connect attachment for quick attachment andremoval of the temple pieces to the frame.

[0038] Frame 24 has pads 42 and 44 located near hinges 28 and 26,respectively. Temples 20 and 19 also have pads 46 and 48 which contactpads 42 and 44 respectively when temples 20 and 19 are in open position.The pads, when in contact, complete the electrical path therebyactivating the circuits of apparatus 36. Alternatively, a switch 50 maybe located on temples 19 or 20 to activate the circuits.

[0039] The connected hinge which permits electrical conduction betweenthe both emples and the frame enables the sharing of fuctionalitybetween the left and right temples. It further enables the battery andthe circuitry such as the Bluetooth PCB to be on opposing sides toaccommodate more circuitry and their functions and to balance the weightand volume. The hinge enables dual mono orstereo speakers and canaccommodate USB devices such as a digital camera.

[0040]FIG. 2b is a diagram of the hinge (an embodiment of 26 or 28) withmale connector portion 32 extending out before being molded into thetemple 19, 20. FIG. 2c is a diagram showing the hinge molded into thetemple. FIG. 2d is a diagram showing the spacial relationship of the pin50 of the hinge and the male connector portion 32. FIG. 2e is a diagramshowing the hinge, connector 34 and circuitry 90 such a Bluetooth PCBbefore being molded into the temple. FIG. 2f is a diagram showing thespacial relationship of the assembly of FIG. 2c in the eyewear.

[0041] Temple 20 has co-molded within its body, an apparatus 36.Apparatus 36 can be, for example, an audio device, a camera, a speaker,a microphone, and a display device such as a liquid crystal or an alarm.The apparatus includes electrical circuitry for operation in anelectronics package such as a Bluetooth module with PCB. A battery 38,can be co-molded within temple 20 or 19 and connected to the co-moldedapparatus 36 via co-molded conductors 40.

[0042] Other devices, such as a radio, a CD player, a hand held globalpositioning satellite system and a heart rate monitor, having their owntransceivers similar to the transceiver 18, can also be connected to theeyewear 12. As shown in the flow-chart of FIG. 3, in one embodiment ofthe present invention, the eyewear 12, having the transceiver 18,battery 52, microphone 54 and speaker 56 molded into one of its temples,is connected to a mobile phone, a heart rate monitor or a two-way radio,represented in the flow-chart as one box 66. All of these connecteddevices are equipped with their own transceivers 68, similar to thetransceiver 18, and each transceiver is powered by a battery 72. Sincemobile phones, heart-rate monitors and two-way radios are typicallybattery operated, no additional power source is required to powertransceivers 68. A signal, for example audio information generated bythe wearer of the eyewear 12, is transmitted through the microphone 54and transceiver 18 to the transceiver 68 associated with the intendedrecipient device, which device, upon receipt of the signal, performs adesired action, for example further conveys the received audioinformation. A similar embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 7 and 12 where the eyewear 12 is utilized in connection withtelephone conferencing equipment 78. The transceiver 18 of the eyewear12 is then coupled to the transceiver 80 of the telephone conferencingequipment 78 for transmission/receipt of communication signals. Thisembodiment of the present invention may also be utilized together with adigital camera, as described more fully below, for video conferencing.

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, the eyewear 12may be connected to various audio-playing devices, for example, an MP3audio player 58, through the eyewear transceiver 18 coupled to the MP3player's transceiver 70, as shown in the flow-chart of FIG. 4. In thisembodiment, one speaker is mounted on each temple of the eyewear 12,i.e., a left speaker 60 is mounted on the left temple 19 and a rightspeaker 62 is mounted on the right temple 20. Preferably, only onespeaker (left speaker 60 in FIG. 4) is connected directly to thetransceiver 18, the other speaker (right speaker 62 in FIG. 4) is thenconnected to the first speaker through the electrically conductiveconnection of the two temples and the frame. Similarly to the abovedescribed embodiment, the MP3 player 58 is equipped with its owntransceiver 70 capable of exchanging signals with the transceiver 18. Inoperation, when MP3 player plays back previously stored music or anyother stored audio signal, the transceiver 70 feeds this signal to thetransceiver 18 which, in turn, conveys the signal to the speakers 60 and62. This embodiment of the present invention is further illustrated inFIGS. 9-10 showing the eyewear 12 having the transceiver 18 molded intothe left temple 19, the left speaker 60 removably mounted on the lefttemple 19 and the right speaker 62 removably mounted on the right temple20. Left temple 19, frame 24 and right temple 20 form an electricallyconductive link connecting the right speaker 62 to the left speaker 60.

[0044] Various video or photo-enabled devices 74, such as a laptop,personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone or others, can also beconnected to the eyewear 12, as shown in the flow-chart of FIG. 5. Inthis embodiment, a small digital camera 64 is mounted on the frame 24 ofthe eyewear 12, as shown for example in FIG. 11. Camera 64 canpreferably take digital still pictures as well as video images andtransmit them through the transceiver 18 to one or several transceivers76 of the connected devices 74. If camera 64 is provided with software,such software may be stored on one of the connected devices 74, forexample the laptop computer. It is possible then to control camera 64 bytransmitting commands, issued from the laptop computer, through thelaptop's transceiver 76 to the eyewear's transceiver 18, which thenconveys the commands to the camera for fulfillment. This embodiment maybe particularly useful if utilized together with the child's alarmsystem described below. In the described embodiment, the electricallyconductive connection of the two temples and the frame is necessary inorder for the signal to be conveyed to and from the connected devices.However, if such connection is not desirable, camera 64 may be locatedon the same temple, for example temple 19, with the transceiver 18. Anelectrical connection link between the camera and the transceiver maythen be embodied within the single temple, as shown in the flow-chart ofFIG. 6.

[0045]FIG. 8 illustrates a possible combination of the eyewearcomponents described in the previous embodiments. As described above,the eyewear comprises the frame 24 and two temples: left temple 19 andright temple 20. Frame 24 preferably houses the camera 64 for takingvideo images and still photographs. Right temple 20 preferably houses aremovable right speaker 62. Left temple 19 preferably houses a removableleft speaker 60, microphone 54, transceiver 18 and battery 52. When theeyewear 12 is open, as shown in FIG. 8, the electrical circuit of theconductive connection between all the components is closed, therebyenabling battery 52 to power all of the components located on the frameand the opposite temple.

[0046] In another embodiment, eyewear 12 worn for example by an adult,comprises a distance alarm monitor to supervise the movement of a child.In this embodiment, a device, preferably in the form of a bracelet 17equipped with its own short-range transceiver (see FIG. 1), is worn bythe child. Transceiver 18 in the eyewear and transceiver in the bracelet17 form a small-range wireless network, wherein the eyewear and thebracelet communicate with each other using signals conforming to theaforementioned Bluetooth standard. The transceiver 18 in the eyewear 12is configured to activate the alarm when the distance between thebracelet 17 and the eyewear 18 exceeds a predetermined range. The alarmcould be, for example, a video alarm like a red light, or an audio alarmlike an audible beep or vibratory alarm. Of course the functions of theeyewear and the bracelet may be reversed, i.e. the bracelet with adistance alarm monitor is worn by the supervising adult and the eyewearwith its own transceiver is worn by the child. Alternatively, two pairsof eyewear may be provided, one with an alarm monitor and a controllingtransceiver, to be worn by the adult, and another with a controlledtransceiver, to be worn by the child.

[0047] The invention also includes the methods of manufacturing theeyewear. The eyewear is manufactured in a process to create electricalcomponents contained throughout the entire frames and temples.Electrical components discussed above and electrical conductors areembedded in the temple and frame portions for the purpose of supplyingelectrical energy to the various components. In one method some or allof the components, including the conductive wires are co-molded into thetemples and frames. This is an in-process method where the componentsare inserted into the temple and frame tools. The mold cycle is started,plastic material flows into the core and covity of the tool, and thecomponents are permanently set in the rigid temples and frames.

[0048] Alternatively, the method of manufacture may be that some or allof the components, including the conductive wires, are assembled intopiece parts that make up the temples and frames. The piece parts thatmake up the temples and frames are designed and injection molded tofacilitate easy insertion and assembly of mechanical and electricalcomponents. Further, a combination of the co-molded and assembledcomponents may be used to maximize efficiency.

[0049] While particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from this invention inits broader aspect and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompasswithin their scope all such changes and modifications that fall withinthe true sprit and scope of this invention.

We claim:
 1. An eyewear comprising: a frame; at least two hinges; and atleast two temples, wherein said hinges detachably connect said templesto said frame and each of said temples could be replaced by a secondtemple.
 2. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein said second temple hasco-molded within it, an apparatus selected from a group consisting of anaudio device having a speaker and a microphone, a camera, a displaydevice, a distance alarm and an ear bud.
 3. The eyewear of claim 1wherein said second temple has co-molded therein a radio transceiver. 4.The eyewear of claim 3 wherein said radio transceiver is capable offorming an ad hoc wireless network with a plurality of devices.
 5. Theeyewear of claim 1 wherein said frame has co-molded therein a radiotransceiver.
 6. The eyewear of claim 5 wherein said radio transceiver iscapable of forming an ad hoc wireless network with a plurality ofdevices